Tunable one-dimensional ordered structure in a magnetic fluid microstrip under parallel magnetic fields

This paper investigates the structural evolution in a magnetic fluid microstrip under external magnetic fields parallel to the strip surface. It is shown that as the field strength increases, the structure evolves from an originally monodispersed state to a disordered magnetic chain state, and then to a one-dimensional ordered structure of chains. For the ordered structure state, the chain spacing is reduced with an increase in field strength, because more columns form under higher fields. Thus, a tunable one-dimensional ordered structure can be achieved in magnetic fluid films under parallel magnetic fields. The manipulations of the tunability of the ordered structure under various control parameters, such as the sweep rate of the magnetic field, the fluid concentration, and the strip width, are also discussed. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.